Hey Friends!

We're excited to share the first Volunteer Connection of 2026 with you, filled with ways that you can show your love to our community during the month of February and beyond!

One way to show that love is to nominate a favorite volunteer in your world for a Governor's Volunteer Service Award! HandsOn has been the long-time organizer for these awards in Forsyth County, alongside our co-presenters United Way of Forsyth County, Salem College and Premier Sponsor Allegacy Federal Credit Union and Lead Sponsor Truliant Federal Credit Union. But it's a statewide program, and your volunteer can live or serve anywhere in NC! You can access the online nomination form here, and anyone can nominate a volunteer (they just can't be related to each other.) But act fast--the deadline for the awards here in Forsyth County is February 27th! All our Forsyth County nominees will get invited to a dessert reception on Wednesday, May 6th in their honor.

As always, we're happy to highlight a few possible volunteer options in this month's newsletter, but we're also inviting you to think more broadly about how you show up to make change in our community. We're asking for your feedback--both via a survey and a listening session in March--about the 2030 Census, and its importance to local nonprofits and the people they serve. Volunteers have a crucial perspective and we want to make sure your voices are heard! You'll see more details below.

And also know that while we only highlight a small handful of opportunities in our newsletter, there are LITERALLY hundreds of different service possibilities available across Forsyth, Guilford and other Triad communities on our GetConnected website. We hope that you'll take advantage of this resource and help spread the word to others who might find serving and engaging with our community especially beneficial at a time when service can provide an opportunity to connect with others in concrete and tangible ways.

If you'd like to help us spread the love even further--about trends in service and volunteerism, about the importance of civic engagement in general, and more-- please let us know if we can come speak to your civic, faith or community group about ways they can get involved in 2026!

Yours in Service,

Amy

Amy Lytle

Executive Director

HandsOn NWNC

Forsyth County Governor's Volunteer Awards are Generously Sponsored by:


PREMIER SPONSOR

Lead Sponsor

DATE: Thursday, March 18, 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm

LOCATION: Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness, 114 W. 30th St., Room 602 (see map)

As part of HandsOn's long-standing partnership with NC Counts Coalition, and our dedication to increasing civic engagement in all forms, we're hosting an interactive listening and learning session about the importance of the 2030 Census and we'd love for you to come and help spread the word!

Even if you can't come on 3/18, WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU. Please take this short survey to inform us about what you already understand and feel about the Census and its importance to our community, our local nonprofits, and the people we serve. ANYONE CAN TAKE THE SURVEY, so please share with your friends, family, and fellow volunteers! They do not need to live in Forsyth County. All answers will remain anonymous and will be shared only in the aggregate. Questions? Please contact Amy.

Thanks so much, and we can't wait to hear from you!

Register for the Listening Session on March 18th Today!

Take the Survey in ENGLISH or SPANISH Today!



BackPack Beginnings in Guilford County connects children and their families with resources needed to thrive.  By ensuring food and basic necessities are given directly to children in need, they make a positive and lasting impact on their health and well-being. 

Friendly volunteers assist guests during their Client Choice Family Market by answering questions, bagging their items, loading their cars, playing with their children, restocking our shelving and any other tasks needed. Volunteers ideally would commit to a weekly 3 hour shift, with the highest demand on Mondays from 1-4pm and Wednesdays from 12-3pm. Spanish-speaking volunteers are especially welcomed!



Sign-Up to Volunteer Here!

greeNest is a unique, volunteer-driven nonprofit In Winston-Salem where community members bring their time, creativity, and energy to support families transitioning into stable housing. Volunteers help sort and organize donations, decorate the showroom, assist participants during their shopping appointments, and even refurbish or paint furniture to give pieces a second life. Together, they help create a warm, welcoming space that reflects dignity, comfort, and choice.

They have New Volunteer Orientations scheduled for adults throughout March and April. Youth volunteers are encouraged to participate during their Youth Workdays on the second Saturday of every month.

Sign-Up to Volunteer Here!

Operation Xcel offers academic and enrichment programs for youth in kindergarten through 8th grade, as well as empowerment and literacy services in specific areas to adults. Through their academic and enrichment programs throughout Guilford County, they are committed to providing equal access to quality educational resources, supporting diversity of thought, and creating a strong foundation for the development of long-term career goals and civic participation. But they need YOU to help make that happen!

They are currently recruiting volunteers for two of their summer programs--one at Jackson Middle School in Greensboro and the other at various locations in High Point. Volunteers can also serve in the after-school programs at Peck Elementary and at other sites in Guilford County. All of these opportunities provide volunteers with a chance to work one-on-one with students in educational and other enrichment activities.

Interested in supporting students but want something a little more behind the scenes? They are also looking for a volunteer handyman who can help move supplies, materials, and other items to/from various locations and make minor repairs as needed. They could also use the help of a great event planner! These roles are great for those who want to share specific skills and support student success in a different way.

Learn More and Sign-Up for These Opportunities Today!

Senior Services helps older adults living in Forsyth County remain at home, living with dignity and aging with purpose through a variety of programs and services.

Volunteers are crucial to the operations of the Williams Adult Day Center, , which provides a safe, fun, and structured day program that brings meaning and friendship to people living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Volunteers assist staff with checking clients in and out as well as with one-on-one programmatic activities.

Their Meals-on-Wheels program also depends on volunteers to deliver hot, nutritious meals to older adults in both Winston-Salem and Kernersville. Perhaps more important than the meal itself is the vital human connection point between volunteers and seniors that happens each weekday morning across our community.

Sign-Up to Volunteer Today!

New Arrivals Institute (NAI)

High school-aged volunteers are needed for the Summer Literacy Art Music and Movement Program (SLAMM) at the New Arrivals Institute. These volunteers will have an opportunity to be mentored by college interns while modeling positive leadership and service excellence. SLAMM offers refugee and immigrant youth from numerous countries, including Afghanistan, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other countries, opportunities to improve their literacy in a fun, inclusive environment. SLAMM takes place Monday through Friday, and intern hours are 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. The program includes literacy activities, science, technology, soccer, art, crafts, financial literacy, dance, drama, music, Legos, and more

To learn more, visit their website or contact Suchitra Shenoy-Packer to receive more information and an application.

View all of NAI's Current Volunteer Opportunities Here!

If you've been an active volunteer through our portal recently, you may have gotten an email (or two!) from us earlier this year to take a volunteer survey. We need feedback from volunteers like you about your experience to help increase our effectiveness. This information is vital to understanding our impact as an organization and how we can improve our programming and partnerships.

The short survey should only take you 3-5 minutes to complete. Responses will be confidential and anonymous, and we encourage honest feedback. The survey will close soon, so we hope you will respond TODAY!

Thank you in advance for your participation!

Take The Survey Now!

As HandsOn steps into our NINETEENTH year of providing top-notch service to the community in 2026, we want to make sure that we bring our partners and volunteers along with us--because we can't do the work of mobilizing people and organizations that inspire community change without YOU!

We encourage you to make a gift in honor of your favorite volunteer (we'll send a letter to them!) or provide a year of Supporting Partnership to another nonprofit. We've continue to grow our impact over the past year and your support will help keep that success on track.

There are so many ways in which a single gift to HandsOn, no matter how small, is leveraged multiple times over the course of a single year! Your spring gift can help HandsOn keep harnessing the power of volunteer efforts and providing support to hundreds of other nonprofits and causes across our community! Got questions? Don't hesitate to reach out to Amy Lytle, Executive Director.

For all of our local volunteer opportunities across Forsyth, Surry, Stokes, Davie, Davidson, Yadkin, and now Guilford Counties, please visit GetConnected.

And be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for timely opportunities and other information!

HandsOnNWNC.org

Info@HandsOnNWNC.org

phone: 336.724.2866